Results 2,541-2,560 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Urban Renewal Schemes. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The idea is to have as much openness and transparency as possible to ensure the Dublin Docklands Development Authority which the Deputy acknowledges has done good work in regeneration of the area can continue to do this work but in a way that is open, transparent, competent and efficient. That is my aim and it is shared by most Members of the House.

Nuclear Plants. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: Ireland is a non-nuclear state. The Government does not believe nuclear power is the answer to our energy needs and would prefer to see greater emphasis on renewable energy sources. As a non-nuclear state, Ireland does not stand to receive any of the claimed benefits from the current wave of developments in nuclear energy but must still bear any trans-boundary risks that might arise from...

Nuclear Plants. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: In response to the last question, no report has been received by me on the matter. As soon as I receive one, I will issue a response. On the question of groups which have met, I met colleagues representing the non-nuclear states in Vienna. I hope another meeting will be planned shortly. It is important that the non-nuclear states combine because they are all threatened in various ways...

Nuclear Plants. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The only meeting I attended was the one in Vienna to which I have referred. I have not received any other invitations from my Department to attend other meetings. However, I make it my business to attend such meetings on receiving invitations because I consider this to be a major issue. When I spoke on it recently, I also noted that many of the new reactor designs were still in their...

Nuclear Plants. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: I will.

Water Pollution. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 88 together. The European Court of Justice recently ruled that Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 4 and 8 of the 1975 waste directive as regards domestic wastewaters disposed of in the countryside through septic tanks and other individual wastewater treatment systems. The renewed programme for Government includes a commitment...

Water Pollution. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The task force has approximately two months to produce a set of proposals. It will comprise officials from my Department, the local authorities and the EPA. We must then go through a legislative process. Due to the pressure on us, rightly, because of the severity of the problem, I hope the legislation will be passed within a year. It is absolutely essential. According to the CSO, there...

Water Pollution. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: There is nothing bizarre about the industry seeking regulation as it stands to benefit from such regulation. I have met industry representatives who have shown me the latest equipment, how it functions and how it can be installed quickly in an existing septic tank. There is much innovation in the industry, members of which are delighted that at long last there is a Minister interested in...

Water Pollution. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: It is a fact. Various Administrations have failed to tackle the problem, although we have known about it for some time. However, this Government will tackle it. There is a real commitment to doing so. I have given that commitment today and gave it previously in the renewed programme for Government. The report of the joint committee on the issue was good. However, it makes a few...

Water Pollution. (24 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: I am glad the Deputy has referred to that innovation. I have spoken to people such as Éamon de Buitléar and others who believe we do not need hard engineering solutions but can use the reed bed technologies which work very effectively. It is something we will have to explore to a greater extent, particularly in small connurbations where they can be very effective. To refer to the Deputy's...

Waste Management. (19 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: I thank Deputy Andrews for raising this issue. As the Deputy is aware, waste management infrastructure projects are advanced by private sector service providers or by local authorities, generally by way of a public private partnership. It is a matter for the promoters of such projects to seek and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals - that is, planning permission and a waste licence....

Written Answers — Control of Dogs: Control of Dogs (19 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 place controls on the following ten breeds of dogs : American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd (Alsatian), Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and every type of dog commonly known as a Ban Dog (or Bandog). The controls, which must be observed...

Written Answers — Radon Gas: Radon Gas (19 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The cost of each radon measurement kit for sale from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) is €56. Measurement kits are also available from private service providers at a range of similar costs. I would strongly encourage householders living in High Radon Areas to have their homes tested for radon. If the level is high it is important that the appropriate remediation...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The total operating budget for the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) for 2009 is €5.485 million of which €3.945 million is Exchequer funded and €1.540 million is estimated earned fees for services. Pending publication of 2010 estimates, it is not possible to provide the RPII projected budget for 2010 at this time.

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (19 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together. Delivery of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) project is well advanced with a substantial body of survey work published and accessible on the Buildings of Ireland website at www.buildingsoflireland.ie. Substantive work is underway on 6 surveys around the country. The initial scoping of the NIAH survey for Dublin...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (19 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: The numbers of permanent and temporary staff employed by each local authority at the end of June 2008, end of September 2008, end of June 2009, and the end of September 2009, as supplied to my Department by each Local Authority, expressed as whole time equivalents, are shown in the attached table. Under the terms of the Government's decision on implementation of savings in public service, no...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (19 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 276 of 18 November 2009, which outlines the current position on this matter.

Written Answers — Town Boundaries: Town Boundaries (19 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: Midleton Town Council applied for a boundary alteration in 2006. The extent of the change to the boundary sought by the Town Council was opposed by Cork County Council. My Department wrote to Midleton Town Council in December 2007 stating that I considered it inappropriate to proceed with the application for a number of reasons, including the lack of agreement between town and county, the...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (18 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: As an EU Member State, Ireland recognises the right of every Member State to determine its own energy mix. It is a matter for the UK Government to determine its own energy policy, and nuclear energy has been a part of that policy for many years. My Department is in regular contact with the relevant UK Government Departments and agencies on radiological protection matters and nuclear safety....

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (18 Nov 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the statement which I made at a meeting with the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security on 11 November 2009. Towards the end of my statement, I addressed the recently changed outlook for the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Copenhagen next month. It is now the case that a politically-binding...